Improvement of output beam quality in broad area lasers with off-axis feedback

Abstract

We report a method to improve the beam quality of broad area lasers by using a V-shaped external cavity formed by two off-axis feedback mirrors that allow to select a single transverse mode with the intensity modulated in the transverse direction. We find that in the case when one of the two feedback mirrors is absent a spontaneous formation of self-induced transverse population grating leading to a reduction of the lasing threshold is observed. Most favorable conditions for stabilization of single transverse supermode and creation of a high power and high brightness plane wave traveling in the extended cavity are obtained for equal re ectivities of the two external reflectors.